Exercising apparatus



v 1,623,670 l' 5 1927' L..,FRANKENFELD EXERCISING APPARATUS I Filed May 25; 1923 5 Sheets Sheet 1 April 5 1927.

L. FRANKENFELD nxmcx sme APPARATUS\ Filed May 25. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwemtoz .L. FRANKENFELD EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 3 April 5 1927. 1,623,670

awvewtoz Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

u.N1-rEof-srAT s PATENT, OFFICE,

LEO FEANKENFELD, F

EXERCISING Application filed May 25,

This invention relates to an improved exercising apparatus." V

The main object of the invention is to provide an exercising apparatus which is complete in itself, and. is at all times available for use at. any place or position at which it is desiredto' use the same, without necessitating the use of hooks or other fixtures which haveto be attached to a floor, wall or other such means of support.

Another ob ect of the invention is toprovi'de an improved form of exercising appa ratus adapted to be folded or packed into a small compass for carrying about, so that it may be packed'easily into a bag or grip for use while travelling.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exercising apparatus equipped with means for shortening or lengthening the various elastic members or cords ofthe apparatus, so that it may be used by different persons, or may be used to perform VilllOllS exercises, or exercises in various positions. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of spring-grip tus by means of an handle for the exercising apparatus.

Theinventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in wh ch Figure l is a view in perspective of an exercising device in accordance with the present invention. FigureQis a detail view showing one method of attaching the elastic exercising members o'r cords to the base of the appara-' adjustable connector and ring.

Figure 2 is a front view of a modified form of adjustable connector. I 7

Figure .3 is a side view of the adjustable connector showing the mannerin which the members or cords of the exerciser are secured thereby.

Figure 4 shows another method of attaching the members or cords of the exerciser to the base by means of a swivelling snap hook and rings.

' Figure 5 illustrates an ner of providing for shortening orlengthening the'exerciser cords.

Figure 6 is a view of a preferred form of exerciser handle having a spring-grip Figure 7 is a similar view ofa modified form ofspring-grip handle, and j ,Figure 8 shows a modified form of atalternative man- I no'BoKnN, NEW JERSEY;

APPARATUS.

1923. Serial No. 641,301.

tachment for connecting the cord with the handle. p I 7 Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. i The exercising apparatus according to this invention, as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, consists of a base or plat-form 1, which may be made of any suitable material, such as wood, or may be a stamping of metal, such as aluminum, and is preferably made in two sections of equal ize hinged together by means of hinges 2, so as to enableone section to befolde'd over upon the other, said base or platform when opened out being of sufficient size to enable a person-to stand comfortably thereon, or

to sit or lie thereon according to the nature.

of the exercises which are to be performed, the weight of the person in any case holding the base or platform firmly upon the floor or ground. 3

Attached by suitable means, such as screws, to the underside of each section of the base 1, is a metal stripor plate 3, extending across the width of the section in the center thereof, and bent up at its outer end to provide an upwardly extending lug or bracket 4, provided with an aperture or apertures 5 therein, and to which lugs are adapted to be attached a plurality of independent exercising devices 6 and 7. .The exercising devices 6 may be similar in construction, and each may comprise a handle or hand gripv 8 to which is attached by suitable means an elastic element 19 which may be a spring, or an'elastic cord or cords, as usual in exercising apparatus, provided at the other end thereof with means for at taching the same to one of the apertured' lugs t of the base 1. The exercising device 7 comprises an elastic element or cord 10v of usual form and of suitable length attached at its ends to the apertured lugs 4: of the base 1, and having the parts thereof secured together in any suitable manner, as

by means of a clip 11, so as to provide a loop 12. 7

The ends of the elastic cord 10 may be attached to the apertured lugs in any convenient manner, the means shown for this purpose, comprising a ring 13 attached to the end of the cord by passing such end through the ring and bending the same back upon itselfand securely fixing the bent back end to the cord by sulta-ble' means, such as a clip 14:, Fig. 2. The ring is split at 15 as shown so that it may be opened up and passed through the aperture in the lug 1, and then closed again to securely attach the exerciser cords to said lug. The ring may be so formed that it may readily be opened and closed by means of pliers or the like so that the exercising device may be readily attached to or detached from the base 1.

Each of the exercising devices is preferably attached to the corresponding lug 4 of the base by means of an adjustable connector 16 which permits adjustment of the length of the exerciser cords 9 to suit different people, or different exercises to be performed.

This connector comprises a member or plate 16 provided therethrough with a plurality of apertures 17 through which the end of the cord may be threaded in the manner shown in Fig. 2, so as to provide a plurality of reverse bends in the cords as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the end of said cord preferably being provided with a tip 18 of suitable material which may or may not be larger than the apertures 17 in the adjustable connector, so that in the former case it forms a stop at the end of the cord. By loosening the loops or bends in the cord between the apertures 17 and pulling the cord through the apertures in one direction or the other the length thereof may be increased or decreasedas desired, but when the loops or bends in the cord are tightened between the apertures of the connector, the cord cannot be pulled through but will be securely anchored. The apertures 17 are preferably of about the same diameter as the exerciser cord 9.

An alternative form of connector is shown in Figure 9 in which the plate 16 is provided with an aperture 17' and with a suitable number (two being shown for convenience only) of oppositely inclined slots 17. By passing the exerciser cord through the aperture 17' and thence into the openings or slots 17 in succession, the cord is reversely bent upon itself in a similar manner to that described in the reference to the form of connector shown in Figure i and the cord is likewise securely held against slipping. The provision of the slots or openings 17 somewhat facilitates the adjustment of the cord, as will be readily understood.

The connector 16 or 16 is provided at its end with a split loop 19 so that it may be passed through the aperture in the corresponding lug 4 whereby the connector is attached to the base member 1. If desired the loop 19 may be so formed that it may be repeatedly opened and closed by the use of pliers or the like, so that the connector may be repeatedly attached to or detached from the base member.

Another means for securing the elastic cord members 9 and of the exercising devices G and 7 to the lugs 1 of the base 1 is shown in Figure at of the drawings and consists of swivelling snap hooks 22 each attached by means of its split loop 23, to one of the lugs 1 of the base 1, the elastic cord members 9 and 10 both having rings 21 attached thereto, in the manner already described with reference to the cord member 10 in Figure 2, said rings engaging said swivelling snap hook and being securedly held thereby, but being readily connected to or disconnected therefrom to render the exercising devices readily attachable to and detachable from the base 1.

A differentmethod of adjusting the length of the cord members is shown in Figure 5, and may be used with or without the snap hook connection shown in Figure 1. This method consists in forming a loop 25 at any desired point on the cord member by securing adjacent parts of the cord together by a clip 26 or in any other suitable way. In the loop 25 a split ring 27 is arranged, which may be engaged with the swivelling snap hook 22 attached to the lug 4. of the base 1, or may be engaged directly with the lug as described with reference to the ring of the cord 10 in Figure 2. 9 will be provided with a ring as described with reference to Figure -l and by connecting the end ring with the lug at or snap hook 22 a long cord is obtained, while when the intermediate ring is so connected a short cord is obtained.

It will be understood that if desired the cords 9, 10 might be provided at the ends thereof with strap hooks of any suitable construction adapted to be detachably engaged directly with the lugs 4: of the base 1.

The handle 8 may be of any suitable or usual form, as shown at the right of Figure 1, but it is preferred to use a spring-grip handle, as shown at the left of Fig. 1 and in greater detail in Figs. 6 and 7.

A preferred form of spring-grip handle is illustrated in Figure 6 and consists of a substantially U-shaped metal strip 28 and a wooden or other grip 29 suitably secured between the sides of the Ushaped member, as by means of a rod passed through said grip and sides and riveted or burred over at its ends. Positioned between the handle or grip 29 and the base of the U-shaped strip 28 there is another handle or grip 31 which is freely positioned between and is unconnected with the two sides of the strip 28. Attached to the ends of the handle or grip 31, as by means of a rod 32 passed through the grip and provided with eyes or loops S3 at the ends thereof, are springs 34 which are attached at their other ends to the base portion of the handle strip 28, as by passing their ends through apertures in said base The end of the cord portion'and bending the same over. -When the two handles aregripped anddrawn together, the springs] are tensioned, and this provides a resilient grip which willensure the muscles being flexed or tensioned during themain exercising operation and also provides .an exercising operation in itself for certain muscles.

- The elastic cord member Qmay be fastened to, the handle in any suitable way. 7 In the drawing, the base portion of the handle strip is shown provided with a plurality of apertures 28 any suitable number of which may 7 be used, five being shown; as a matter of convenience. The cord is passed upwardly throughthe' central aperture 28 and then downwardly through the next adjacent aperture at either side thereof, thence upwardly through the next adjacent aperture at the same side, and finally is bent over and passed downwardly through an aperture at the other side of the handle. This threading of the cord through a plurality of apertures establishes one or more reverse bends in the cord member which has the effect of securely anchoring the cord, while atthe same time permitting adjustment of the length of the cord=to suit different persons, or to permit different exercises to be performed.

By providing an adjustment for the length of the-cord at the handle as described, it is of course unnecessaryto provide the adjustable connector 16 abovereferred to, and the lower end of the cord may be attached to V the apertured lug i of the base 1 in any conveinentv manner, for example, as shown in Figure 4, or as described in the reference to cord 10, in Figure 2, or by providing a snap I hook of suitable form at the end of the.

shown in Fi ure 7 andconsistsjofithe sin le piece of wire ofsuitable length and size,

said'strip of wire being formed'to provide a loop 37 to which the exerciser cord 9 is connected, and intermediate loops or eyes 38. The ends of the wire arebent toward each other to receive the handle grip 29 provided with openings to receive said ends. The second handle or grip 31 is freely positioned between'the two side members of the wire frame 36 and is similarly connected to the springs 34 attached at their other ends to the intermediate loop members 38 of the wire frame 86. The elastic cord member 9 may conveniently be attached to the loop member 37 of the handle by means of a hook 39 of wire formed in one with spiral coil 40, which is tightly coiled upon and securely grips the end of the elastic cord member.

Another means of securing the elastic cord. member 9 to the loop member 25? of the wire frame 86 is shown in Figure 8 and con sists of a sleeve member 41 spun or pressed upon the elastic cord member to securely grip the same and provided at the top with an apertured lug 42 capable of being slipped over an end of the wire handle frame mem ber 86 and past one of the loops 38 and into the base loop 37, where it is securely retained in place. I

It will be readily understood from the foregoing description thata person may stand upon the base or platform 1 and by grasping the handles 8, may operate the exercising devices 6 in various ways and in different directions to provide various exercises for the different muscles of the body. He may also sit or he upon the base or platform and similarly operate the exercising devices and in any case the weight of the person will hold the base firmly in'position upon the floor or ground. Thus an exercising appa ratus is obtained which is complete in itself and .does away with the necessity for hooks or other devices which have to be affixed to the walls or floor-of a buildii-ig, or the like. The apparatus may also be used in any place or position and ma be readily carried from one place to anotherfo'r use by the same or ditl'ernt persons, and it 22y be carried with a person when travelling, as it may be folded or packed in a very small space,-the exercisl ail ing devices'being readily detached if so desired and as readily quire for'use. e

The different exercising devices may also be usedone at a time, as they are entirely independent of each other as will be readily seen, and the elastic members or cords may re'adiiy be lengthened or shortened, for use by persons-of different size or development, or for use in different positions of the person using the apparatus, as when sitting or lying upon the base 1.

By passing the loop 12 of the exercising device 7 over the head, and raising and lowreattached W161i reering the upper part of the body, this device may. be used to exercise the n cl; and other -musclcs, independently of or while using at the same time the exercising devices 6. Also by placing one foot either in the loop 12, or at the junction of the two cord portions '10 beneath the clip 11, and standing upon the other foot, this device 7 may be usedto exercise the leg muscles. 7

Furthermore, by placing the base or plat. form upon the back of the person using the exerciser, suspending it if need be by passing the cord portions 10 over or under the arms and about the neck of the user, and if necessary shortening the exercising devices 6, these devices may be readily operated in ill this position in a manner similar to that of the operation of known exercising devices.

It will thus be seen that the exercising apparatus of the present invention may be used in a large variety of ways, such as to exercise or develop practically all of the muscles of the body and at the same time the structure of the apparatus is such that it may be easily and cheaply manufactured, and may be used in any place, outdoors or indoors, and may be readily carried about or transported.

The invention is not limited to the precise details hereinbefore described, as the vzu rious features of construction may be variously modified within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

lVhat I claim is:

1. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a base member adapted to lie fiat upon the floor, and a plurality of independently extensible exercising devices attached at the ends thereof to said base mernber and having individual manipulating means at the free ends thereof, one of said devices comprising an elastic element attached at its ends to said base member and formed to provide a loop intermediate said ends for manipulating said element.

2. llxercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a base men'ibei. adapted to lie flat upon the floor, and a plurality of independently extensible exercising devices attached at the ends thereof to said base member and having individual manipulating means at the free ends thereof, one of said devices comprising an elastic element attached at its ends to said base member and having its parts secured together to form a closed loop intermediate said ends for manipulating said element.

3. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a base member adapted to lie fiat upon the floor, attaching members secured to said base member atopposite sides thereof, each of said attaching members consistiug of an upwardly extending apertured partof a strip secured to the underside of said base member, and a plurality of independently extensible exercising devices connected at the ends thereof to said attaching members and having individual manipulating means at the free ends thereof.

Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a base member adapted to lie flat upon the floor, and formed of a pair of similar sections hingedly connected together, a strip secured substantially centrally beneath each section, and having its outer end bent upwardly and apertured to provide an apertured lug, and a plurality of independently extensible exercising devices comprising elastic elements attached at the ends thereof to said apertured lugs and having individual manipulating means at the free ends thereof.

Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a base member adapted to lie flat upon the floor, a connector attached to said base member at each side thereof, and a plurality of independently extensible exercising devices each comprising an elastic element adjuee tably held at one end thereof by one of said connectors, and having an individual manipulating means at the free end thereof.

(5. llxercising apparatus, comprising in combinatimi, a base member adapted to lie flat. upon the floor, an adjustable connector attached to said base member at each side thereof said connector comprising a member having a plurality of openings or apertures therein, and a plurality of independently extensible exercising devices each comprising an elastic element having one end thereof threaded through the openings of one of said connectors, and having an individual handle at its free end.

7. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a base. member adapted to lie flat upon the floor, connecting elements attached to said base member at opposite sides thereof and substantially universally movable relatively to said base member, and a plurality of independently extensible exercising devices comprising elastic elements attached at the ends thereof to said connecting elements and having individual manipulating means at the other ends thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEO FRANKENFELD. 

